口数(くちかず)

口数(くちかず) literally means "number of mouths/words" and describes how much someone talks. It is almost always used with quantity modifiers.

Common collocations

• 口数(くちかず)が多(おお)い: talkative
• 口数(くちかず)が少(すく)ない: of few words, quiet, reticent
• 口数(くちかず)が減(へ)る: to become quieter
• 口数(くちかず)が増(ふ)える: to become more talkative

Usage

Often used to describe changes in someone's speaking patterns, especially as a sign of emotional state. A person who suddenly becomes 口数(くちかず)が少(すく)ない may be worried, upset, or unwell.

Similar words

• 無口(むくち): taciturn, quiet by nature (personality trait)
• おしゃべり: chatty, talkative (casual, often slightly negative)
• 寡黙(かもく): reticent, silent (literary, positive nuance of quiet dignity)